Red Cross teaches disaster preparedness

Some central Iowa families can learn how to be prepared for disasters through a series of courses being taught this week. Greg Boyle is emergency services director for the Iowa Rivers Chapter of the American Red Cross in Marshalltown, where the first class will be held tonight.Boyle says the two-hour classes in Family Disaster Preparedness are designed for adults and teenagers. He says September 11th has taught us that we all need to be ready to respond to emergencies, not just people in big cities. Boyle says the course covers a wide number of possibilities.Boyle says families will learn to prepare for natural and man-made disasters — from house fires to floods and from hazardous materials spills to a plane crash. The classes are free. All run from 6:30 to 8:30 p-m. Tonight’s class is in Marshalltown, while classes will be held in Grinnell tomorrow night and in Tama on Thursday night. For more details, call toll free 877-792-3808.